The Theme
This map shows, for the populated area of each census division,
the projected change in the market share of small vans in total
light-duty vehicle sales, from the model year 1990 to 2010 (the
base year and the target year of the Kyoto
Protocol), based on the business-as-usual scenario. The business-as-usual
case assumes that there are no major policy changes in the 1990 to 2010
period, which would affect vehicle preferences. This change was
derived based on the 1990 market share and the 2010 market share
projection. The 2010 market share projection is provided as an alternative
layer in this map.
Light-duty vehicles include all cars and light trucks. The light-duty
vehicle size classes, defined by the US Environmental Protection
Agency, were adopted for the vehicle classification. This classification
has 15 classes: six classes for automobiles, six classes for light
trucks, and three classes for station wagons. Among these 15 classes,
seven prominent classes account for the large majority of new light-duty
vehicle sales in each census division. The prominent classes are subcompact cars, compact cars, midsize cars, large cars, small vans,
small utility vehicles and large pickups. The remaining classes
include two seater cars, minicompacts, small pickups, large vans,
large utility vehicles, and three size classes of wagons.
Note that there are no data available for the Territories.
Relation to Climate Change
Because vehicles consume a substantial part of energy in Canada,
average vehicle fuel efficiency is an important indicator for greenhouse
gas emission and climate change policy making. The lower the fuel
efficiency, the higher the emission per vehicle, and, consequently,
the greater the contribution to greenhouse gases. Average new light
duty vehicle fuel efficiency, which measures miles travelled per
gallon, is defined by averaging the tested fuel efficiency
rating for each vehicle's class, weighted by that class' market
share in each census division. Vehicle market share is therefore
one of the two determinants to vehicle fuel efficiency. Small vans
are normally less fuel-efficient than cars, but more efficient than
other light trucks. Thus, the effect of a high market share of small
vans on average vehicle fuel efficiency would depend on the market
shares of the other vehicle classes. Generally, the more the passenger
cars, the more negative the effect of a large market share of small
vans on the average fuel efficiency; and the more trucks, the more
positive this effect.
Map Interpretation
Over the forecasting period 1990 to 2010, there would be significant
increases in the market share of small vans (about 16%) across Canada.
The overall pattern of spatial variations would remain largely unchanged
over this period. Vans are proportionately more common in Alberta,
Saskatchewan and parts of Ontario, whereas they are less common
in the Atlantic Provinces. In general, it appears that, proportionally,
areas with higher market shares of this vehicle class with the model
year 1990 tend to change less, and areas with lower shares tend
to increase more. The fastest growth in this vehicle market share
would take place in the Atlantic Provinces. This tendency of change
suggests that the spatial variation of market share of small vans
would be less significant for the model year 2010 than 1990. It
should be noted, however, that the percentage measure of change
is relative to the base number of 1990 small vans in a particular
census division. A higher percentage of increase for an area, therefore,
does not necessarily
mean a higher increase in the absolute number of this class of vehicle
for the 2010 model.
The market share models suggest that the market share of small
vans is positively correlated to younger populations, household
income and relative savings of purchasing and fuelling a vehicle
of this class. The projected decrease in a younger population, as
shown in Figure 1, has a negative effect on the market share of
small vans. However, this effect would be overwhelmed by the significant
increase in relative savings of owning a van (Figure 3), along with
the increase in household income (Figure 2).
[D] Click for larger version, 2 KB Figure 1. Projected Age Group of Younger and Older Populations
[D] Click for larger version, 1 KB Figure 2. Projected Household Average Income
[D] Click for larger version, 3 KB Figure 3. Projected Savings of Purchasing and Fuelling a Vehicle of a Certain Class Relative to the Weighted Average of all Light Vehicles for the Given Year
Data Source
A case study was conducted at the GeoAccess Division of Earth Sciences
Sector, Natural Resources Canada, in collaboration with Transportation
Energy Use Division of Energy Sector, Natural Resources Canada,
in order to showcase a spatial econometric approach to modelling
in support of policy making. The
projection for the market shares of light-duty vehicles by census
division was produced during this study. More details on the spatial
econometric approach are provided in Methodology
for Projection.
The verification of this projection of light-duty vehicle market
share has shown its likely validity for forecasting shifts in the
mix of light-duty vehicle sales for a given model year in a short
to medium term. This projection, however, is based on a series of
macroeconomic assumptions in Canada's Energy Outlook 1997, which
represent a best guess for the possible future if there will be
no additional policy interventions. Generally, it is suggested that
an econometric projection should serve as a trend forecast rather
than a numerical forecast.
An official projection for vehicle fuel efficiency and market shares at provincial and national levels can be found in Canada's Emissions Outlook: An Update 1999.
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